You can avoid location fees if you do it at someone's house with a big backyard!
Also, for a priest, if you belong to a church... that would be your cheapest way. Private ministers are very expensive, and I'm sure sure about a justice of the peace.
JOJO1974 3/2/06 8:13 P
I think those touches are the best! You just don't look at the cake and think how pretty it is... You think of the good times making it!
SUNSHINEGAL_30 3/2/06 7:23 P
JOJO1974...we're doing similar things for our weddings. Getting loved ones involved!
AURORAVLAD, glad I could help ya.
Best wishes to all!
Jen
JOJO1974 3/1/06 12:07 P
I am making my own cake with cupcakes, I made my flowers, I have my brother in law dj-ing, my other bro-in-law videoing, my best friend's hubby doing our pictures, and the best of all.... my mother is making my dress!
LMF1222 3/1/06 11:27 A
You could also reduce costs to yourself by having people come in costume of the era. That way, instead of a wedding dress and tux, you and yours could wear suits (yours a skirt suit and his a traditional suit) reminiscent of that era.
AURORAVLAD 2/27/06 11:51 P
Jen, you rock my socks. Thanks so much!
SUNSHINEGAL_30 2/27/06 9:10 A
Hi there.
LOL...you've got a good sense of humor. My Ken doll practiced polygamy with his 3 Barbie wives, but as I aged, I realized that's not what the good church was trying to teach so two of the Barbies became a lesbian couple (yes, I realize that broke church tradition, too) and the remaining Barbie married Ken in a lavish ceremony in my parents' backyard flower garden. About 20 stuffed animals showed to witness the event. My fiance TOdd would totally die if he read that. :-)
I posted this on another string and am doing a cut n' paste jobbie for ya. I hope this info helps. Drop me an email if you want to chat offline about wedding stuff...sunshinegal_30@hotmail.com.
I'm breaking comfortable with comfortable tradition and using some of the greatest resources I know...family and friends.
1 - Mom and Aunt are baking wedding cupcakes instead of a big cake (Cost - $0...except for the $23.99 Cuddles n' Snuggles cake topper)
2 - Cousin is going to DJ (Cost - $200, but he doesn't want to take the money so we're going to have to force it in him somehow)
3 - Dad & Matron of Honor's Hubby - Photography (Cost - $0...they're both VERY good and VERY reliable and I made them give me samples of their work. Yes, I'm serious.)
As for other stuff...
If you need a wedding planner, ask a trusted friend or family member. The professionals are awesome, yes, but they can cost thousands of dollars.
The wedding favors add up. My tip there is to wait to buy those until you get closer to the wedding. I failed to do this and have thusfar spent $500, some of which I won't be using because we changed our minds re: the theme.
Order paper for wedding programs and do them yourself. Cost me $15.
Design your own wedding invitations and/or RSVP cards and/or save the date cards (or magnets!!!). www.vistaprint.com is a good resource...I used it for our save the date magnets and rsvp POSTCARDS.
Have RSVP postcards instead of the alternative.
Have RSVP invitations instead of the alternative.
SHOP AROUND for reception places. Hotels cost out the Ying Yang. I got a deal for $31.99 per head at a local hotel that has just been renovated. Am expecting 160 people to attend. The average cost per person in the DC area where I live, however, is $90 per person. Be creative...get married on a beach.
Reduce # of attendees. The average is 100-120.
Reduce # of bridal attendants. I have two. Todd has two. We went nutso on our flowergirls...three.
Have a honeymoon in the US or take an all-inclusive cruise. For your 1-year anniversary, take the big honeymoon overseas. Todd and I are going overboard...Italy for 10 days...but hey, it's not for everyone.
There's so much you can do. Best wishes to you and your hubby2be!
Jen
AURORAVLAD 2/27/06 2:07 A
I cringe at the word "wedding." I work at a bookstore, so wedding magazines are about all I put back in the Winter. When I was a kid, my Barbie had a wedding dress so she and Ken could get married and have sex (true story...I really liked the discovery channel as a kid). So honestly, until about a month ago I hadn't thought about weddings. My boyfriend and I always made little loving comments about wanting to be together forever...and then three weeks ago he took me ring shopping...and my heart stopped. I don't really want a wedding. I'd be happy with the 25.99 drive thru special in las Vegas. However, my guy has his heart set on a wedding. He's worried that in ten years I'll be all bitter for not having a big party. So there were tears and frustration when he wouldn't explain what he wanted...and he told me straight: I'm marrying you, I don't care what its all like. I just don't want to go to Vegas.
So, we've decided on a 1940s swing theme wedding. Any ideas to keep my costs down and myself from ending up in the local mental hospital?
